Thursday, March 29, 2012

During World War II, a salesman traveled by train throughout the Eastern United States. Sometimes his extensive travel would wear him down. But, on many winter Sunday evenings, he would look forward to passing a particular town outside of Washington, DC.

As his train would glide through the Maryland countryside, he would see a glow in the distance. As his train entered the town, that glow would resolve into a brightly lighted church not far from the railroad tracks.

The arrival of his train very often coincided with a large crowd of people entering the doors of the church. The sight of all those people coming on a Sunday evening to worship God would always warm his heart and lift his spirits.

It seems as if King David experienced a similar spiritual boost when he considered the gift of God’s mercy that moved him to come into the house of the Lord. This coming to worship had a profound effect on David’s spiritual formation.

In the Scripture passage at the beginning of this blog post, David talks about the important place that bowing in reverence before the God of the Universe had in determining David’s outlook and the direction he would point his life. God’s provision of a time and place to worship Him gave David needed encouragement and structured a firm foundation on which he could build his faith.

Let me encourage you to find time in your schedule to go to the house of the Lord and spend time in reverent worship. Celebrate the mercy of God in your life. Let Him know how much you appreciate what He has done for you and what He will continue to do for you throughout the remaining days of your life.

Will you pray with me?

Thank You, God, for loving us. Thank You for sending Jesus to be our Savior. Thank You for sending us Your Holy Spirit to dwell within us.

Precious Father, we praise You for Your mercy, grace, and love. We thank You that You have made a provision for us to be able to worship You in freedom. Draw us into Your presence and give us the motivation to set aside time to join with other believers in reverent worship.

We thank You that the promise of Your presence enables us to move forward along the path that You have laid out for us. And, we thank You for hearing our prayer in and through the precious Name of Your Son, our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Monday, March 26, 2012

1 Give ear to my words, O Lord,
consider my sighing.2 Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray.3 In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.

The sigh is one of the most effective and most annoying forms of non-verbal communications. The very nature of the vocal mechanics that produce a sigh virtually guarantees that the sigh will call attention to itself.

“What’s the matter?”

“What? Why?”

“You sighed—a big one. What’s wrong?”

Sound familiar? Especially between married couples, or close friends, or workplace colleagues, the sigh holds a potency that almost defies measurement.

Throughout the course of our daily lives, we sigh many times. Sometimes the sigh comes from frustration. Sometimes it comes from annoyance. Sometimes it comes from heartache or despair. Sometimes the sigh represents failure, depression, or even grief.

Whatever purpose any particular sigh may have in your life, or in mine, a sigh certainly had a place of honor in the life of King David.

In the Scripture passage at the beginning of this blog post, David prays earnestly and fervently to God. He asks God to make His ears available to hear the words David intends to speak. He asks God to “consider my sighing...” and to “…listen to my cry for help…” David knew that God willingly offered to bend His ear so that He could hear the soft whisper of that potent non-verbal sigh.

How do you suppose you would react when you sighed if, in the inner voice of your mind and heart, you heard God respond, “Yes, my dearly loved child. I hear your sigh”?

I imagine His answer would startle you. But I also suspect that when you thought about it for a while, the very fact that God answered your sighing would give you comfort and even joy.

The God who created us—the One who chose us before the foundation of the earth to belong to Him—does indeed “consider our sighing.” He watches over us with even greater attention than the very best loving and caring guardian. He longs to receive our communications. And, He remains eager to speak to us, to have a conversation with us.

That’s why it is so important to set aside a specific period of time each day to read God’s Word and pray. Making room in our daily schedule to build on the foundation of our relationship with the God who loves us is always time well spent.

No matter what trial, temptation, discouragement, or concern you may face today, please remember you do not have to greet that trouble alone. God is with you. If you belong to Him, the Holy Spirit dwells within you. God waits patiently so that He may “consider your sighing.”

Will you pray with me?

Thank You, God, for loving us. Thank You for sending Jesus to be our Savior. Thank You for sending us Your Holy Spirit to dwell within us.

Even as a sigh leaves our lips, Precious Father, You move toward us to enfold us in Your mercy, love, and grace. Thank You for the promise of your presence. Thank You for giving ear to our words, for listening to our cries for help, for considering our sighs.

We thank You that You have promised to never leave us nor forsake us. And, we thank You for hearing our prayer in and through the precious Name of Your Son, our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Can you tell the difference between anger and passion? I can. I have to. I have to because all through my life I’ve had people accuse me of being an angry man.

“Whenever you talk about _____________________, I hear such anger in your voice.”

For a very long time I took that accusation to heart. Then, one day, I began to search the Scriptures and seek out all of the passages that dealt with anger. Do you know what I discovered? There’s a huge difference between someone feeling and expressing “anger” and someone who feels and expresses “passion” about something.

In second grade I became disgusted with the foolish behavior of many of my male peers. I had been raised in a neighborhood virtually devoid of children—all the children had grown and gone. So, when I got to Kindergarten. I had markedly different social skills than my peers. Having spent most of my life with adults, I tended to think more like an adult, particularly about activities that posed danger or some potential threat for physical harm.

I did not respond well to dares. In fact, I didn’t respond at all. If someone dared me to do something, I would just shake my head and walk away. Because I felt absolutely no connection with my peers, I did not respond to peer pressure. Thus, I stood out and very quickly became cast out. Frankly, this suited me just fine.

As my disgust over the behavior of my male peers increased, I retreated into a fantasy world similar to the one I had occupied in those five years before I started school. I created an imaginary character called “The Commander of Justice.” CJ spent his time roving the neighborhood righting wrongs, punishing wrongdoers, and saving the world from stupid behavior. I, of course, was CJ.

As I would recount my carefully woven tales of CJ’s exploits to my parents, they became concerned. “You seem so angry, dear,” my mother would say. And so it began—what I have come to call “The Angry Man” label.

During college, as I studied psychology, and particularly as I participated in group therapy and individual counseling, I began to get a glimmer of understanding of the difference between anger and passion.

Anger is visceral. It rises up within someone from deep within his or her inner being. It is unreasonable. It expresses itself in vitriol. It is aggressive, or passive-aggressive. It intends harm. It wants to destroy. It is a negative emotional experience.

Passion comes, not from an inner rage that wells up within, but more from a wave of compassion that sweeps in from without. Passion is reasonable and is rooted in one’s intellect. Passion expresses itself in wanting to right a wrong, repair something or someone damaged. Passion is assertive, but not aggressive or passive-aggressive. It intends good. It wants to repair, rebuild, restore, or create. It is a positive emotional experience.

The Scripture passage at the beginning of this blog post captures King David’s attempt to draw the distinction between anger and passion. “In your anger do not sin.” If you feel strongly about something, particularly a wrong that you have observed, control the inner drive that pushes you to try to right the wrong so that the drive does not lead you to sin. Allow self-control, guided by the Holy Spirit, to confine your passion to repair, rebuild, restore, or create within the boundaries of reasonableness that defines true passion.

A person can feel deeply, care deeply, desire deeply to see a wrong righted and even express that desire in highly motivational language and still remain within the boundary that separates passion from anger. Just because I want to see wrong behavior eliminated, wounds healed, truth revealed, or errors corrected does not make me an angry man.

Yes! I am passionate. In fact, I am very, very passionate. But, angry? No! I am not an angry, angry man.

Will you pray with me?

Thank You, God, for loving us. Thank You for sending Jesus to be our Savior. Thank You for sending us Your Holy Spirit to dwell within us.

You, O God, are the One who restrains our passion and keeps us from drifting into sin. You are the One who lets Your passion flow through us to minister to the needs of a sick and dying world. You are the One who causes our very being to reflect Your desire to see all that’s wrong made right. Please continue to help us yield our passion to Your Holy Spirit. May Your Spirit guide us so that our passion does not give way to sin.

We thank You for Your mercy, grace, and love. And, we thank You for hearing our prayer in and through the precious Name of Your Son, our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Monday, March 19, 2012

I grew up in a house filled with music. Both of my dear parents loved to sing. My mom would play the piano and my dad would stand beside her and sing the words from the sheet music or hymnal. My parents also liked to listen to records and we had quite a collection of 78 rpm records of famous big band singers. As I grew older, we acquired quite a few 33 1/3 rpm records, too. Then, the dreaded 45’s—dreaded because, to my parents, rock and roll was just so much noise.

I once asked my mom why music seemed so important to her and to my dad. She told me, “Music can put a smile on your face. When you feel sad or overwhelmed, music can make you feel better. And, besides,” she continued, “God loves music. All through the Bible the Scriptures talk about the important place music plays both in heaven and here on earth.”

As usual, my mom was right. Music has great power to soothe and caress the soul. In the Scripture passage at the beginning of this blog post, King David testifies to the reality that God has placed a new song in his mouth. To understand this you must remember that David started out his life as a young boy out on the hillside tending sheep. Many shephers carried a small wooden flute on which they would play tunes to soothe the sheep and also pass the long hours watching for predators as the sheep grazed.

Music played an important part in David’s life. You may remember that 1 Samuel 16:23 records how David played the harp to soothe Saul’s troubled soul when God sent a spirit to torment Saul because of his sin. In this case, God gave Saul a stark contrast between the painful consequences of his sin and the peaceful music coming from a godly young man that had been annointed of the Lord.

Maybe you’re someone who does not sing or play an instrument or even enjoy music very much. If so, your life still is surrounded by music virtually everywhere you go. In the supermaket, music plays that industrial psychologists have chosen to create an atmosphere conducive to encourage you to buy more goods. Most television commercials have a music bed that plays underneath the narration. Even at the theater, as you wait for the movie to begin, music will play to ease the anxiety of waiting. Music is everywhere.

As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, countless thousands of songs, hymns, and spiritual songs have been written to help us express our faith and to forthtell the great truths of God’s Word. Whether we sing songs of praise to God, implore Him to come to our aid, celebrate the joy that He gives us, remember the great gift He has given us in His Son, music plays an important part in our worship, both personal and corporate.

If I may, I would like to suggest that you begin every day this week by asking God to put a new song in your mouth for that day. I believe that God will answer that pray and He will fill your heart and mind with a new song of His mercy, grace, and love. With the totality of your being so filled with that new song, it will overflow out of you and touch the lives of everyone who crosses your pathway. Will you give my suggestion a try?

One of those 78 rpm records that I heard played so much in my home growing up was Perry Como’s first recording of very winsome tune: “Without a Song” with music by Vincent Youmans and lyrics by Billy Rose and Edward Eliscu. (Perry Como recorded this classic a second time in 1970.) I have always liked this song very much. It brings back some very fond memories from the loving cocoon of my childhood.

Without a song the day would never end
Without a song the road would never bend
When things go wrong a man ain’t got a friend
Without a song

That field of corn would never see a plow
That field of corn would be deserted now
A man is born but he’s no good no how
Without a song

I got my trouble and woe but, sure as I know, that Jordan will roll
I'll get along as long as a song is strong in my soul

I'll never know what makes the rain to fall
I'll never know what makes the grass so tall
I only know there ain’t no love at all
Without a song

In the late 1970s, while developing an illustration of multi-track recording for a particular teaching assignment, I became fascinated all over again with the exquiste techniques employed by The Carpenters. Karen and Richard Carpenter, along with the recording engineers at A & M Records under the leadership of Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss, developed the art of muti-track recording to an unprecedented level. Most listeners do not realize that the two singers provided all the vocal parts for the vast majority of their recordings. They perfected some recording techniques that musicians continue to use today, nearly 43 years later.

In celebration of “Without A Song” and also the legacy of Karen and Richard Carpenter, here’s their version of this classic song:

I hope you enjoyed that rather unique version of a classic tune.

Will you pray with me?

Thank You, God, for loving us. Thank You for sending Jesus to be our Savior. Thank You for sending us Your Holy Spirit to dwell within us.

As we bow humbly before you, Precious Father, we invite You to place a new song in our hearts, even praise to our God. We long to know the peace, joy, courage, and strength that King David knew because he placed all of his trust in You.

We thank You for Your great love for us, even when we seem so weak and frail in our faith. We know that we can always count on Your mercy, grace, and great love. And, we thank You for hearing our prayer in and through the precious Name of Your Son, our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Thursday, March 15, 2012

6 Many are asking, “Who can show us any good?”
Let the light of your face shine upon us, O Lord.7 You have filled my heart with greater joy
than when their grain and new wine abound.8 I will lie down and sleep in peace,
for you alone, O Lord,
make me dwell in safety.

Did you ever go for a walk in total darkness? I’ve had two experiences in my life when I learned what it felt like to spend time in total darkness.

As a teenager, I worked at Camp Findley in Findley Lake, New York. One night, I decided to walk up the hill to a large pasture that stretched out across a plateau of level ground. Thick clouds blocked the moonlight.

As I walked further along the road through the pasture, the man-made light from the cottages below the brow of the hill faded until I finally stood in total darkness. I could not see my hands when I held them in front of my face. For just a few seconds, I stood there in total darkness. Almost immediately, a panic began to well up within me. So, I quickly turned on my flashlight. What a relief to see that beam of light.

Several years later, as a young adult, I made a special inspection at a film processing plant. The center of the plant housed a number of rooms where workers opened the incoming film canisters and loaded the exposed film into the processing machines. The plant engineer, who acted as my guide, told me that these rooms had not seen any light for over twenty years. All operations took place in total darkness. Even the mechanics who repaired the machines learned to do their work by training with blindfolds so they could make repairs in the totally dark rooms.

When I entered the room through a series of light locks, the total darkness took my breath away. Only the softly encouraging voice of the plant engineer helped still the rising panic that gripped me.

“Keep your left hand on the railing,” he told me. “No matter what you do, don’t let go.”

We stood there for what seemed like an hour, but probably only lasted a couple of minutes. I could hear the noise of the processing machines and the voices of the workers as they spoke to one another.

Finally, the plant engineer said, with a smile in his voice, “Have you seen enough?”

I nodded my head. Then I laughed as I realized he couldn’t see my head nod. “Yes,” I chuckled. “I’ve seen enough.”

As a young shepherd boy, Kind David had experienced many nights alone in the darkness. The soft breeze of the night air brushed lightly across his forehead. The sheep made their sheep noises as they settled down for the night. I cannot help but feel David remembered some of those long ago nights when he penned the words to the Scripture passage at the beginning of this blog post.

We live in a world darkened by sin. We struggle to maintain our equilibrium, wallowing in circumstances that would gladly rob us of any sense of well-being. Yet we can place our hope in the God who loves us. We can join King David and invite God to let the light of His face shine upon us.

Randy Phillips, Shawn Craig, and Dan Dean of the contemporary Christian trio, Phillips, Craig and Dean, have written a wonderful song, “Shine on Us,” that illustrates King David’s prayer:

Lord, let Your light, light of Your face
Shine on us (repeat)

That we may be saved
That we may have life
To shine our way in the darkest night
Let your light shine on us

Lord, let your grace, grace from Your hand,
Come over us (repeat)

That we may be saved
That we may have life
To shine our way in the darkest night
Let Your grace come over us

Lord, let Your love, love with no end
Fall on us (repeat)

That we may be saved,
That we may have life
To shine our way in the darkest night
Let Your love fall on us

Let Your light shine on us

And here is a really well-done version of this song by the MBC Choir and Deaf Mute Ensemble.

Will you pray with me?

Thank You, God, for loving us. Thank You for sending Jesus to be our Savior. Thank You for sending us Your Holy Spirit to dwell within us.

Thank You, Precious Father, that You remain willing to hear our cries for help and to shine the light of Your face into the darkness that would swallow us. We rest in the enabling power of Your Holy Spirit to keep us walking in the Light of Your Presence.

We thank You for continuing to love us in spite of our unworthiness. Each step we take, every moment of every day, we need Your divine power to keep us upright and on the straight pathway you have laid out for us. And, we thank You for hearing our prayer in and through the precious Name of Your Son, our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Monday, March 12, 2012

6 I call on you, O God, for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer.7 Show the wonder of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes.8 Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings9 from the wicked who assail me, from my mortal enemies who surround me.

5 Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. 6 Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the great deep. O LORD, you preserve both man and beast. 7 How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings. 8 They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights.9 For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.

1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”3 Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence.4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

In reading through the several Scripture passages at the beginning of this blog post you will quickly realize that the Psalmist has captured an image of God’s love and care for His children based on something that he has obviously observed in nature. The image of sheltering under the wings exudes a sense of protection, warmth, comfort, and also intense love. The God who created in His creatures the amazing instinct to provide care for the one’s who belong to them has that same instinct as a part of His divine nature.

Some time ago, a photographer captured a unique moment where a mother bird shelters her twin baby birds under her wings. If you read very many blogs, you will likely have come across this photo.

My friend, Judy, first called this photo to my attention. Searching for the origin of the photo, I discovered a number of Christian bloggers have used it to illustrate God’s love and care for His own.

The moment I saw the photo, a song from my youth came to mind. Ira D. Sankey wrote a tune to accompany these words by William O. Cushing:

Under His wings I am safely abiding,Though the night deepens and tempests are wild,Still I can trust Him; I know He will keep me,He has redeemed me, and I am His child.

Under His wings, under His wings,Who from His love can sever?Under His wings my soul shall abide,Safely abide forever.

Under His wings, what a refuge in sorrow!How the heart yearningly turns to His rest!Often when earth has no balm for my healing,There I find comfort, and there I am blessed.

Under His wings, under His wings,Who from His love can sever?Under His wings my soul shall abide,Safely abide forever.

Under His wings, oh, what precious enjoyment!There will I hide till life’s trials are o’er;Sheltered, protected, no evil can harm me,Resting in Jesus, I’m safe evermore.

Under His wings, under His wings,Who from His love can sever?Under His wings my soul shall abide,Safely abide forever.

God lovingly waits for us to shelter under His wings. That’s where I intend to spend time today. I invite you to join me there.

Will you pray with me?

Thank You, God, for loving us. Thank You for sending Jesus to be our Savior. Thank You for sending us Your Holy Spirit to dwell within us.

Thank You for providing Your loving, protective wings under which we may find shelter during the storms of life. How we praise You for Your great love that You continually show us through Your consistent care.

Thank You, dear Father, for leading us by Your Holy Spirit along the pathway that You have laid out before us. And, thank You for hearing our prayer in and through the precious Name of Your Son, our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Occasionally, in every generation, a voice appears that has a unique way of speaking truth in a gentle, yet forthright, manner. I believe that Eric Metaxas speaks with such a voice. He is the author of well-researched and elegantly written books including the following:

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About God (But Were Afraid to Ask)

Amazing Grace: William Wilberforce and the Heroic Campaign to End Slavery

Everything Else You Always Wanted to Know About God (But Were Afraid to Ask)

It’s Time to Sleep, My Love

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About God–The Jesus Edition

Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy.

Eric Metaxas speaks with a clear voice about serious issues in an engaging and truly smile-evoking way.

On February 2, 2012, Eric Metaxas presented the keynote address at the Fellowship Foundation National Prayer Breakfast. The Washington Post writer Michelle Boorstein summarized his speech this way:

But [Eric Metaxses’] deepest message was that Christianity has been warped into a focus on doctrine and judgment. “Pious baloney isn’t faith. Imagine talking to Jesus that way. He’d almost laugh,” Metaxas said.

Of course, he said much more than that. So much more, in fact, that you may want to settle in an watch his entire 30-minute speech. You will find that it will be time well spent.

Will you pray with me?

Thank You, God, for loving us. Thank You for sending Jesus to be our Savior. Thank You for sending us Your Holy Spirit to dwell within us.

Thank You that You still raise up strong voices to sound the trumpet and warn God’s people. As You send Your Holy Spirit to energize us to do Your work in this world, may we rise to the challenge and respond to this siren call.

Thank You, dear Father, for Your overhwleming love that You have demonstrated to us in the provision of Your Son as the substitutionary sacrifice to pay the penalty for our sins. How we thank You for leading us by Your Holy Spirit along the pathway You have laid out before us. And, thank You for hearing our prayer in and through the precious Name of Your Son, our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

“Dean? Dean? Dean? Where are you?” my mother stood at the back door of our home and called out across the backyards. When I didn’t answer, she called again. “Dean? Dean? Dean? Where are you?”

I had wandered away from my own backyard, lured by an intriguing sound coming from behind the factory building that adjoined the rear of our property. To find the source of the alluring sound I had to cross the railroad tracks. Crossing the railroad tracks—not permitted under any circumstances. And that, of course, was where my dad found me when he started searching for me after my mother frantically summoned him to her aid. Needless to say, I received a spanking; one of the very few in my life.

Whenever we find ourselves surrounded by troubles—big and small—we turn to God and call out to Him in our hour of need. We find ourselves in the same position as King David in the Scripture passage at the beginning of this blog post.

God has given us the promise of His Presence. When we call, He always hears our cry. Because He loves us with His everlasting love, we need never doubt that God will hear us when we cry out to Him.

If you find yourself in trouble today, cry out to God. He will hear your cry for help.

Will you pray with me?

Thank You, God, for loving us. Thank You for sending Jesus to be our Savior. Thank You for sending us Your Holy Spirit to dwell within us.

Thank you for always hearing our cries for help when we find ourselves in a time of need. We praise You that Your mercies are new every morning. We praise You that Your faithfulness is great.

Thank You for caring about us and for Your willingness to come to our aid. And, thank You for hearing this prayer in and through the precious Name of Your Son, our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

I find it interesting that, in the Scripture passage at the beginning of this blog post, King David prays a similar prayer. He wrote this Psalm at a time when he was fleeing from his son, Absalom. David had every reason to feel great fear and sadness at what his son had plotted against him.

Yet, David knew that God would keep him safe. God would hold him in the hollow of His mighty hand.

No matter what circumstance you may find yourself in today, take comfort in knowing that God loves you and will keep you safe. Indeed, God will sustain you. You will have no need to fear anyone or anything.

Hallelujah—Praise be to God!

Will you pray with me?

Thank You, God, for loving us. Thank You for sending Jesus to be our Savior. Thank You for sending us Your Holy Spirit to dwell within us.

Thank you for keeping us safe from harm. Though those who have made themselves our enemies plot against us to destroy us, to bring us down, You will sustain us. Your Presence will comfort us and allow us to lay our heads on our pillows and rest in You.

Thank You for Your watchful care. Thank You for bathing us in Your love, O God. And, thank You for hearing our prayer in and through the precious Name of Your Son, our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Followers

About Me

Retired from full-time employment since 2003, Dean was raised in Bradford, PA, where he and his family were active members of the Hill Memorial Evangelical United Brethren Church.

Dean graduated from Houghton College (NY) in 1968 with a BA degree in Writing and Psychology.

Before retiring, he spent 38 years working as a fire protection engineer, educator, director of training, and business consultant in the insurance and consulting industries. Dean holds registration as a licensed Professional Fire Protection Engineer (CT), has been elected a Fellow of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers, and has received the Standards Medal from the National Fire Protection Association.

Dean has written over 370 magazine articles and book chapters for technical and business publications. He has written over 1,100 blog posts. Dean is also a nationally known conference speaker and seminar leader on various fire protection, adult learning, and communications issues.

In July of 1968, Dean married the former Shirley Willink, who remains his most faithful and best friend.